Read Aloud Books Your 8-Year-Old Won’t Be Able to Put Down

Looking for some titles to pick up on your next library trip? Below you’ll find a few must-try read aloud books for 8-year-olds, recommended by kids for kids. Thanks to Zina from Let’s Lasso the Moon (and her daughters) for sharing these titles with us.

. . .

There was a time when reading together at bedtime was a given. Over time, we went from reading hardcover illustrated books together to…

… reading chapter books solo. My daughter, the night owl, loves to curl up with a blanket at night and read by the light of a lamp. What I found is, even at 9-years-old, she still loves to read together. It is my intention to keep this recently renewed tradition rolling.

If you want to start reading aloud with your kids again, here are three tips for success:

Find stories that entertain both of you.

Take turns reading every other page to ensure you both stay engaged.

Be sure to pause and talk about the book.

That first tip seems simple, but it is more challenging than you might think.

Below are three book recommendations specifically for The Peanut. If your little one loves animals, has a gentle heart, but also craves humor and adventure too … these are great light-hearted read aloud family books.

3 Excellent Read Aloud Books for 8-Year-Olds:

How far would you go for a friend? In Nuts to You, the funny and moving illustrated novel by Newbery Medalist Lynne Rae Perkins, two squirrels go very far indeed to save a friend who has been snatched up by a hawk. Nuts to You “begs to be read aloud,” said the Horn Book. Nuts to You features black-and-white art by the author on every page, as well as exclusive material original to this edition.

It begins, as the best superhero stories do, with a tragic accident that has unexpected consequences. The squirrel never saw the vacuum cleaner coming, but self-described cynic Flora Belle Buckman is just the right person to step in and save him. What neither can predict is that Ulysses (the squirrel) has been born anew, with powers of strength, flight, and misspelled poetry.

From #1 New York Times best-selling author Kate DiCamillo comes a laugh-out-loud story filled with eccentric, endearing characters and featuring an exciting new format — a novel interspersed with comic-style graphic sequences and full-page illustrations, all rendered in black-and-white by up-and-coming artist K. G. Campbell.

Notes: The girls read this book and like it so much that we reserved the book on CD to listen to during a family road trip. It is entertaining for the kiddos, but humorous enough that adults won’t lose interest. Now that I see it has full-page illustrations. I might have to check it out from the library!

The Borrowers—the Clock family: Homily, Pod, and their fourteen-year-old daughter, Arrietty, to be precise—are tiny people who live underneath the kitchen floor of an old English country manor. All their minuscule home furnishings, from postage stamp paintings to champagne cork chairs, are “borrowed” from the “human beans” who tromp around loudly above them. All is well until Pod is spotted upstairs by a human boy! Can the Clocks stay nested safely in their beloved hidden home, or will they be forced to flee?

Notes: We started reading this after watching the Studio Ghibli movie The Secret World of Arrietty. Both the book and movie are excellent. Some of the vocabulary in this book is a bit tough for newer readers; so again, it would make a great read aloud.

If you’re new to Disney’s Studio Ghibli, you’re in for a treat. Here are some of our family’s favorite flicks from this Japanese animation studio :

Each of these stories have heavy parts, but when read aloud … they all make for great conversation. There are so many great reads for us to share with our kids.

When I came across this quote, I couldn’t help but smile.

I’d love to hear about a book YOU recently read with your older kids. Let’s chat in the comments.

P.S. When I pulled together this post, I went to my photo archive thinking I would easily find an image of either me or my husband reading with our girls. I searched and searched through birthdays, vacations, and holidays … yet I struggled finding photos of the special time we spent with our girls EVERY NIGHT through their toddler and preschool years.

This is one of the few photos I found…

I love this photo because of that diaper bottom and my other daughter’s foot brace (that she stopped wearing when she was four).

I love that they are doing an evening reading picnic on a Power Rangers sleeping bag that my daughter used to adore.

I love seeing the stack of four books, knowing each girl got to pick two to have Daddy read.

All the things in this photograph once felt like mundane details. Looking at the photo now… these details are everything.

Tiffany and this blog, Peanut Blossom, have been my photography inspiration for years. Have you heard about her 100 days of summer project? You should check it out.

Meet Zina Harrington Zina is the author of Let’s Lasso the Moon, where she inspires parents and children to interact creatively and enjoy the beauty of everyday moments.

I love reading to my 9.5 year old every night. Thanks for sharing. Wonder is on our summer reading list I can’t wait to check it out at the library. Right now we are finishing up the Harry Potter series. I tried to stop after the third book but he insisted on continuing so we have discussed the darker parts of the book. The Spirit Animal series is our favorite series right now. These books also have a darker side but he loves them and so do I.

My son is 10. Some read-alouds he has recently enjoyed include: James Patterson’s Treasure Hunter series, Harry Potter, Peter and the Starcatchers series, and Out Of My Mind. We are currently reading Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Greek Myths: A Wonder Book for Girls and Boys. I like to turn our bedtime reading into story themed lunches for my son to take to school. You can see them here: https://www.pinterest.com/keithas/my-story-themed-lunches/

We also like to listen to books on tape in the car. Our library has a great selection. We are about halfway through Hatchet by Gary Paulsen.

Thanks for posting this list. I am pinning it to use as a resource when we are ready to pick our next book.

Just finished Anne of Green Gables with my 9 and 11 year old boys. Had forgotten how beautifully written, uplifting, and intelligent it was. Also, don’t miss reading the fabulous Laura Ingalls Wilder and Pooh books to your big kids. My kids also loved The Hobbit – but their all time favorite was the entire James Herriot series. We all looked forward to it every night!

I purchased a tablecloth in Ireland, unfortunately the store was sold out (Quills) of the matching napkins. I am having trouble now finding the napkins. I’m back home in Canada and will purchase online but I can’t find the design to match. Can you help me? It is an off white tablecloth with a linen color around the outside decorated with a muted green bunch of shamrocks bordering the outer edge as well. I believe it is a mix of cotton and linen? Please help! Glenda

Trackbacks

[…] & Ulysses: This book came highly recommended from Zina’s “Books your 8 year old won’t be able to put down” list from June. I was tickled pink to find it on audio from the library. She’s warned me to hold off on it […]

[…] And if you’re looking for a new chapter book to read with your kids while at the park, be sure to check out this Book List my girls helped me create: Read-Aloud Books Your Kids Won’t Be Able to Put Down. […]

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Comment

Name *

Email *

Website

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

Notify me of new posts by email.

About the Author

Strong families start with strong and happy mothers. Too often as women we put everyone's needs before our own. Here at Peanut Blossom, I encourage you to use simple everyday moments ... Read More about Welcome

The Ultimate Kids Cookbook: Fun One-Pot Meals Your Whole Family Will Love by Tiffany Dahle is now available! Filled with 75 delicious recipes for kids that will inspire young chefs to cook for their ... Read More about The Ultimate Kids’ Cookbook

Get on the list!

Join my FREE newsletter to get weekly ideas that will help you take advantage of the changing seasons. Delicious recipes, simple seasonal activities, and the latest book & movie recommendations for families:

First NameLast NameE-Mail Address

Get on the list

Join my FREE newsletter to get weekly ideas for tasty recipes and simple family fun that celebrates the season: